Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, there are some very interesting numbers to be aware of.
According to a new analysis of federal employment data released on Monday by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction employment expanded in 218 metro areas, declined in 72 and was stagnant in 49 between May 2013 and May 2014.
A very good sign that the construction industry is on the upswing is the fact that construction employment continues to rise in about two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas.
However, there are still many areas that have not achieved consistent growth, and very few metros have exceeded previous peaks of construction employment.
Construction officials are still urging Congress and the White House to adopt legislation for funding relief for the federal highway trust fund and a long-term renewal and reform of the program.
As most in the construction industry already know, payment to highway contractors is under threat as well as a looming suspension of the highway and transit construction programs if new authorization is not approved by September 30.
According to the newly releases data: Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas added the largest number of construction jobs in the past year (11,100 jobs, 10 percent); followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (9,300 jobs, 8 percent); Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (7,300, 4 percent); Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, Calif. (7,200 jobs, 9 percent) and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. (7,100 jobs, 8 percent).
The largest percentage gains occurred in St. Cloud, Minn. (34 percent, 1,700 jobs); Monroe, Mich. (30 percent, 700 jobs); and El Centro, Calif. (29 percent, 600 jobs).
Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md. (-4,200 jobs, -13 percent) experienced the largest job loss from May 2013 to May 2014; followed by Gary, Ind. (-2,800 jobs, -14 percent) and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C. (-2,000 jobs, -6 percent).
The largest percentage decline for the past year occurred in Cheyenne, Wyo. (-14 percent, -500 jobs) and Gary, followed by Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J. (-13 percent, -300 jobs) and Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick.
Only 28 metro areas exceeded or matched their prior May construction employment highs, with St. Cloud experiencing the largest percentage increase (26 percent, 1,400 jobs more than in May 2006). Baton Rouge, La. added the most jobs since reaching its prior May peak in 2013 (5,000 jobs, 11 percent).
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. had the largest drop in total construction employment compared to its prior May peak in 2006 (-68,400 jobs, -62 percent), while Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Ariz. experienced the largest percentage decline compared to its May 2006 peak (-68 percent, -5,400 jobs).
Regardless of what happens with the federal highway trust fund or construction numbers, you can rest assured that here at Expert Heavy Equipment (EHE) you will get the best deal because we offer current fair market values on equipment we buy and we offer “true” wholesale pricing on the equipment we sell.
For more information contact us at service@experthe.com.
